If you are not prepared to care for them yourself, a more experienced guinea pig owner may be willing to take them or you may make the decision to have them put down. Guinea Pig Years to Human Years: How Old is Your Cavy in Human Years? Common pregnancy complications include metabolic imbalance, difficult birthing, and postpartum issues like seizures. Remove any other pregnant sows. Right now, it is imperative to ensure the pregnant guinea is in a stress-free environment. Any apparent change of behavior in means of lethargy, anorexia, or depression can be a sign of sickness. Naturally bald areas. Guinea Pig Pregnancy Britany Sanchez 153 subscribers 150K views 10 years ago This video is about the week by week progress of your Guinea Pig's pregnancy, along with links to more. The boar must be removed by 50 days as he may continue to mount her which can be stressful or painful in later pregnancy, and she could become pregnant again as early as two hours after the birth. As she goes into labor she will release out a cry. The duration of pregnancy is inversely proportional to the litter size. Are you wondering if your guinea pig is pregnant? This mechanism works in other species of animals as well and very fortunately humans arent accustomed to it. ). A local breeder may also be willing to help. Guinea pigs reach sexual maturity very early, around 2-4 months of age. In both cases, your pet needs to be seen by a vet. Setting up a guinea pig cage is not so easy. Their eyes will open quickly and, within a few hours of birth, will search for solid food to eat. Pregnancy toxaemia in well kept guinea pigs is very rare; it is most common in breeder sows kept mainly on low grade pellets and with too little/low grade and too little/low grade hay and is more commonly seen in hot weather. Discovered how versatile a. The male, when courting a female, will physically display himself with actions like rumbling, standing upright before the sow, and approaching her with a lowered head. Handbook of Rodent and Rabbit Medicine. When you are sure the birth is over, you can assist the sow in cleaning by removing any stained bedding. There is a high maternal mortality rate for guinea pigs (about 20%) as they are vulnerable to complications and illnesses such as toxemia. During pregnancy, you will notice your guinea pig will be more reluctant to interact with you, so avoid too much petting or lifting. Pregnant guinea pigs get visually larger in the abdominal area. Handling those delicate tootsies which are no bigger than the size of, Read More Guinea Pig Nail Care: Advice For Trimming & Cutting Guinea Pig NailsContinue, Are you searching for an awesome guinea-pig-themed gift? Usually, the occurrence is 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after giving birth. Baby boys need to leave mum at 3 weeks of age or 250grams, whichever comes first. Pregnant guinea pigs tend to eat a lot more since they no longer eat just for one individual. This article received 14 testimonials and 88% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. A new estrous cycle in saws can begin very shortly after giving birth. During the early stage change the usual hay with Alfalfa hay. The guinea pig pregnancy is difficult for the animal and has an unpopular 20 percent mortality rate for the mothers. With all this said, don't be surprised if your guinea pig falls pregnant while she still seems young to you. Ideally, relocate cagemates elsewhere rather than removing the pregnant sow, so she can remain in familiar surroundings. Toxemia is another risk for pregnant guineas, though the exact cause of it is uncertain. However, toxemia is in part a lack of sugar, so keeping sugar levels high is important. After the commotion of a mating ritual, keep a close eye on the sow. Hence, when housed together, a guinea pig pregnancy can occur very early and very often. This prevents an excess of one particular mineral that might be contained in that vegetable. Do not crowd the mother have only one person in the room, but another on standby to make calls if necessary. Pregnant guinea pigs arent accustomed to building nests, yet any type of clean soft bedding will do just fine. The average period of pregnancy is approximately 65 days. If your pet has too much of this, it can build up in urine and cause bladder stones. Be aware that young guinea pigs will begin to eat more as they grow anyway. The age of the sow plays a huge row in making the decision. Doing so can lead to pregnancy. You can even see his guinea pigs feature here and there in some articles. They are able to see, hear and move around once they are born. The guinea pig may die during or after pregnancy due to complications during pregnancy or birth, or from toxemia after birth. In the case of any anomalies or worry, you should contact the vet. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. In the best-case scenario, make arrangements to have a visiting vet check her every once in a while. The onset is generally sudden and progress rather quicker than you are reporting. How can I tell? If the process isnt over in 30-40 minutes or there is an abnormally large interval between delivered pups one may suspect a problem. Sometimes she may wait to attend the young ones until all babies are delivered. Pet stores often keep both sexes together, resulting in many people being sold sows which are already pregnant. My guinea pig is pregnant, and I'm worried she might be sick. Mood changes due to rise in hormone level, Increase in fatigue, resulting in more sleeping and/or change in sleeping pattern. The average duration of a pregnancy is 65 days, but it depends on how many pups she is carrying -- her pregnancy will be shorter if she's carrying more pups. Clean the water bottle weekly to prevent the build-up of algae and bacteria. This is the most exciting period! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Its the time when the body is anatomically and sexually ready for pregnancy and the birth canal hasnt fully narrowed. Duration of guinea pig pregnancy depends on the number of pups: the larger the litter the shorter the pregnancy. With the use of ultrasound, your vet can also assess potential concerns with the pregnancy. Pet stores also often house both sexes together, and some breeders do not separate the sexes early enough so it is possible the sow was already pregnant when you bought her. The early stage consists of the first few days after mating. Make any changes as early as possible in the pregnancy, when the stress will have less of an effect on the sow. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. They should be kept at the same comfortable temperature as the adults. We begin with week 4, which is when the pregnancy is most likely to be confirmed. Whilst guinea pigs should never be bred intentionally, coming home from the pet store with a guinea pig who is already pregnant is a common story. If you cannot check on the sow because of work etc. Doing so can cause pups to grow too big, which the sow may struggle to birth. She may carry several pups, between one and six, and they're carried in the womb for 58 - 73 days. It is entirely possible for a male pup to impregnate its mother or sisters. Male guinea pigs can impregnate a female at as young as 3 weeks old and a female guinea pig can become pregnant at as young as 4 weeks old, so don't be doubtful if your guinea pig is pregnant due to age. So it is not good practice by caring breeders. Until we noticed that her belly got bigger than it should be. when they are this wide you will know she will give birth in the next 48 hours. Sows older than 2 years that werent bred before are most at risk. Every pregnancy varies from individual to individual but theres definitely a silver lining, just as with any other space. Nonetheless, at this stage, allow the female cavy to eat and drink as much as she would like. Although the guinea pig gestation period varies, the guinea pig gestation period typically lasts between 59-72 days. The typical gestation period (the time that the guinea pig is pregnant) is 59 - 72 days, with the average pregnancy lasting around two months, or 63 days. This causes mineral deficiency. All guinea pigs enjoy burrowing down in hay, but do not nest specifically because of pregnancy. So, it should not come as a surprise if female and male pups are kept in one enclosure. Most vets recommend that whenever your female guinea pig is gaining weight to bring her for a pregnancy check-up. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. As with most animals, there's not a set number of days that a guinea pig is pregnant. The vet may try to manipulate the piglet into a position where the mother can pass it. A few proprietors have brought a young guinea pig home, to find that she is pregnant as of now! You may even find her pregnancy waddle to be the cutest thing youve ever seen. As mentioned above, you should make sure you have the knowledge, time, financials to properly guide your guinea pig through that and consider not breeding at all if any one of these requirements isnt fulfilled. Guinea pigs are without a doubt cute, and baby guinea pigs climb twice as high on the cuteness ladder. The gestation period in guinea pigs varies between 59 and 72 days. Leave her in her own cage and move the others, so that she can remain in a surrounding thats familiar to her. For young guinea pigs, this may include supplementing her diet with Critical Care of a similar product. Its a great way to predict and control diseases as well. A female may accidentally injure the babies by squashing them and babies are prone to escaping cages, so check up on them regularly. If the water bottle is usually placed high-up, provide a second water bottle lower down so that the sow does not have to stretch if she does not want to. At the end of the process, the placenta emerges and the mother eats it as well. Lethal guinea pigs are white in colour (not albino) are born blind, usually in both eyes, have crooked or deformed teeth, are often also deaf and often suffer from internal deformities particularly to the digestive organs. As a guinea pig lover myself, I created a list of cute and funny gifts for guinea pig lovers that will surely be appreciated by the receiving party. This type is rich both in protein in calcium, two things she needs a lot at the moment. Well with guinea pigs its the opposite. Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that this isnt medical advice and if you assume there might be a health-related issue, you should contact your vet. Guinea pigs are pregnant for 59-72 days. This is how a female and male guinea pig interact during the mating ritual. During this time, keep watch for the following: Dystocia, or difficult birth, is common in sows who are older than 7-8 months and bred for the first time. Fruits should usually be given sparingly to guinea pigs because the acid can give them mouth ulcers. From this time on, they have a continuous estrus every 16-18 days. Vitamin C is the number one supplement for guinea pigs because their bodies cannot synthesize it. The first week of a guinea pig's . 2. Male piglets must be separated by four weeks old or breeding between littermates may occur. Since their gestation lasts just 59-73 days, a female guinea pig is capable in theory of bearing five or even six litters a year. Do not rely on foods that list added Vitamin C as an ingredient. The female doubles in weight and hence gets bigger in size too during pregnancy. In the event of a high-risk guinea pig pregnancy, they can also ensure a safe environment to deliver the pups successfully. Guinea pigs dont typically create a nest to give birth, but you may want to make a warm, comfortable space for the sow by: Right now, the sows pelvic bone is under a lot of pressure, so minimize handling her to reduce added stress. She does so, as well, with the placenta. The average gestation period is 65 days. What Does a Baby Guinea Pig Look Like? During this time, it is normal for females to double their weight. Pregnancy is hard work for a female guinea pig. Negligence and ignorance can prove to be fatal for the mother and the babies. Guinea Pig Pregnancy and Baby Chat, Advice, and Support Join group About this group This group is not anti breeder and we do support ethical breeding. When its utterly necessary make sure she has the support of her hips. A pregnant sow will begin to drink and eat more as the pregnancy advances. unlocking this expert answer. During this period the mothers double her body weight and get a lot bigger. However, both males and females can mature and be fertile even earlier. Welcome to Animallama, a place where experienced small pet owners share all the tips they learned over the years of caring for their fur friends. Newborn guinea pigs weigh between 60g and 115g. Critical Care or a similar product as it is likely you will need it for at least one pup. Thats because those tiny, adorable feet are just so tiny! If she has given birth before, she likely will double her weight by the time she gives birth, so you can approximate how far along she is by weighing her. X The vet will assess the guinea pigs condition. Flaunt your baby bump in style in 'belfies' or bump selfies. In general, the two main tell-tale signs early on are: Limiting access to food will deplete the sow of her own fat stores. The placenta contains hormones which can trigger contractions. It is worth noting that female guinea pigs can get pregnant at four weeks old. Implement patterned feeding, drinking, and outdoor regiments. Like we said, if you plan to keep the babies, you should keep them separate. Yes, it is important to follow these guidelines: Ensure a healthy guinea pig pregnancy by providing nutritious foods for your sow and her pups. How Big of a Cage for Two Guinea Pigs? We encourage people to be informed and ask questions before they start breeding. Again, if you need to handle your cavy, do so in a gentle manner, grasping her securely yet comfortably, to ensure full support of her body. Do it every day at the same time routinely. Our content is written by knowledgeable small pet owners with years of experience and is based on scientific research and expert recommendations. Answer by Guinea P lover! Is it OK to leave the non-pregnant girl with the pups? And, truth be told, it can certainly be a tricky, stress-ridden adventure for experienced cavy owners as well. 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